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Ecuadorian Congress approves call for popular
referendum
QUITO, February 13.—The
Congressional minority group and the deputies of the
Partido Sociedad Patriótica (PSP) have approved the
proposal of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to
convene a popular referendum on installing a
Constituent Assembly.
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A sea of people
support the call for a Constituent Assembly.
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The resolution underwent some
modifications from its original version, which upset
some social and political movements gathered outside
the parliamentary building, reports Prensa Latina.
With 57 votes, out of the 58
legislators present, the representatives of Popular
Democrático, Pachakutik, Izquierda Democrático, Red
Democrático, and the PSP considered it urgent to
hold the plebiscite.
Of the right-wing block, only
Federico Pérez, of the Partido Renovador
Institutional (PRIAN), remained in the plenary
chamber, while his counterparts in other factions of
the right walked out.
Thus the way was cleared for the
Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to begin
preparations aimed at bestowing full powers on that
Assembly within 150 days.
Among the modifications made to
the statute was the elimination of the requirement
of obtaining 1% of signatures in order to
participate as an assembly candidate.
Similarly, a point was added to
the rules nullifying the Assembly’s ability to
dissolve Congress, which—according to leaders of
social and indigenous movements—eliminates a right
that belongs to the people.
The parliamentarians also changed
the maximum period for the election of delegates to
150 from 125 days, as previously proposed by the
president.
Edison Chávez, vice president of
Parliament, stated that once the referendum is
sanctioned the TSE and the executive.
Translated by Granma
International
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